Why are the Norwegians Killing Fewer Minke Whales?

Norway will kill fewer whales. Having increased their whaling quota year after year, in 2009 it will decrease it by 16 percent. 885 animals instead of 1052, in the previous year.

Why this sudden change in policy? Oslo cites bureaucratic reasons, but this can be seen differently, according to Petra Deimer, Chair person of the Society for the Conservation of Marine mammals (GSM): “ In recent years they have killed less whales than the estimated quotas would have allowed. In the year 2008 the whaling ships have been called home half way through the whaling season, because the demand was drastically reduced.” In addition, Japan does not, or occasionally only reluctantly, import whale meat from the northern hemisphere. The meat of the Minke whales is contaminated, as is the meat of the pilot whales which are still hunted by whalers from the Faroes. The meat is literally poisoned by mercury, for example, as is the meat and the fins of sharks.

Are the whaling politics of Oslo only empty gestures?

It is a fact that the Norwegians do not consume their yearly catches. The refrigerated warehouses are bursting, and the blubber, which was once extolled as a valuable source of nutrition by the government, is today destroyed. No more consumers.

Walter Karpf, 14.12.2008

Translation: Alison Bailey